Dear River Reach Family,

Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. ² “Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance.” Isaiah 55:1-2

It is shocking that I am shocked every year at how fast the year went by!  2018 is almost here and 2017 is almost in the books.  A new year is a God-given opportunity for personal reflection and evaluation.  What does it take to have a great year?  Does it come from the power of positive thinking?  Is a great year simply the result of random fate or luck?  Is it solely dependent on the shear determination of my will to do better or be better this next annum?  For the child of God, every year can be a great year because God’s offer of grace never changes!  Because of Jesus Christ’s redemption for us, our heavenly Father offers to us the components that make for a great year.  As we near the precipice of the new year we long for a year of success, satisfaction, joy, and a happy new year.  In Isaiah 55, the prophet invites us to turn from the emptiness of vain pursuits to the source of true satisfaction in Jesus Christ.  The best part about this offer is that the price has already been paid to purchase for us the sources of true satisfaction that will sustain us in 2018 and every year following.  Join us this Sunday as we rejoice in the goodness of God’s rich blessing offered to us in Isaiah 55.

Sunday Sermon: “An Invitation to Endless Joy and Peace” – Isaiah 55

White Elephant Gift Exchange this Sunday afternoon @ 1:00pm

In honor of our long standing tradition, we will be holding a white elephant gift exchange following our lunch fellowship this Sunday afternoon.  If you would like to participate, please bring a gift not worth more than $5-10 that you would like to include in the gift exchange.  Please do not feel any pressure to purchase a gift.  You may bring something you no longer need around your home, or re-gift that gift that fruit cake from great Aunt Thelma that doesn’t suit your fancy.  The point of the game is to have fun together not necessarily to go home enriched.

You may sign up to bring a dish to the lunch fellowship here.

Thank You!

Our family are overwhelmed and exceedingly grateful for your love and kindness to us throughout the year but especially in your generosity to us this Christmas.  Thank you for caring for us and showing your love to us.  We are blessed to call you our family in the Lord!  Your love and sacrifice is a great blessing and encouragement to us as we seek to serve the Lord by serving you.

New Stewardship Series on Money beginning January 7th

Title: “Money: Showing Off God’s Goodness through Stewardship”

Money is an important part of our lives.  Money and possessions can be a great asset in our Christ walk as well as a great hindrance.  God’s Word teaches us much about how to view and handle the money and physical possessions He has given us.  This is a crucial topic for us in a materialistic world.

I will introduce the topic and present the first lesson during our worship service on January 7th at 10:30am.  The series will then continue during the Sunday classes hour at 9:25am for the next 6-8 weeks. Brian and Josh will be team teaching the content of the series.   Even if you don’t normally come to Sunday School, I’m sure it will be well worth your time to come 1 hour earlier for these lessons.  This series is intended to be biblical and practical at the same time.

Lessons:

1. God’s Purpose for Wealth
2. Giving
3. The Economics of Today: Spending and Budgeting
4. The Economics of Tomorrow: Debt and Saving
5. Developing a Heart that Values Money Rightly

No Discipleship Groups Sunday evening at 6:00pm

We will resume Discipleship Groups again on Sunday 1/7.